Powering Our Region’s Workforce
Educational Excellence in Southeast Wisconsin
Southeast Wisconsin maintains a powerful competitive advantage through its exceptional educational ecosystem. From kindergarten through graduate school, our region builds the skilled workforce that drives business success and community prosperity.
Source: Metro Milwaukee Data Profile, 2022 produced by MMAC
2022
Educational Attainment in Milwaukee
Our region’s workforce demonstrates strong educational credentials that support business growth:
- 93.2% of residents 25 years and older have a high school diploma or higher
- 39.3% hold a bachelor’s degree or higher
- Over 155,000 residents possess graduate or professional degrees
- Only 6.7% of adult residents lack a high school diploma
K-12 Education
Building Tomorrow’s Talent
Milwaukee’s commitment to primary and secondary education creates a strong foundation for future workforce development:
276,956
Students enrolled in PK-12 education
219,695
Students in public schools (79.3%)
57,261
Students in private schools (20.7%)
17,463
High school graduates annually
Wisconsin students consistently rank among national leaders in ACT and SAT performance
Higher Education
Powering Innovation and Leadership
The Milwaukee region hosts a diverse array of higher education institutions that continually replenish our talent pipeline:
- 20 higher education institutions including universities, colleges, and technical schools
- 76,599 total enrollment across all institutions
- 22,446 degrees and certificates awarded annually:
- 6,173 professional certificates
- 2,482 associate’s degrees
- 8,763 bachelor’s degrees
- 5,028 graduate/professional degrees
Key Educational
ASSETS FOR EMPLOYERS
Milwaukee’s educational institutions represent strategic partners for workforce development:
MAJOR UNIVERSITIES
TECHNICAL AND CAREER COLLEGES
SPECIALIZED EDUCATION
Our region’s educational infrastructure provides businesses with access to a continuously refreshed pipeline of skilled workers across disciplines, from technical certificates through advanced degrees, supporting innovation and growth across Southeast Wisconsin’s diverse economy.
| Educational Attainment (7) | 2022 | % dist. |
|---|---|---|
| Population 25 years & over | 1,073,114 | 100.0 |
| Less than 9th grade | 29,307 | 2.7 |
| 9th to 12th grade, no diploma | 43,228 | 4.0 |
| High school graduate (incl. equivalency) | 272,443 | 25.4 |
| Some college, no degree | 208,641 | 19.4 |
| Associate’s degree | 97,767 | 9.1 |
| Bachelor’s degree | 266,244 | 24.8 |
| Graduate or professional degree | 155,484 | 14.5 |
| . | ||
| % high school graduate or higher | 93.2 | |
| % bachelor’s degree or higher | 39.3 |
| School Enrollment (7) | 2022 | % dist. |
|---|---|---|
| Population 3 yrs. & over-enrolled in school | 374,567 | 100.0 |
| Nursery school, preschool | 17,207 | 4.6 |
| Kindergarten | 24,515 | 6.5 |
| Elementary school (grades 1-4) | 73,732 | 19.7 |
| Elementary school (grades 5-8) | 81,924 | 21.9 |
| High school (grades 9-12) | 84,368 | 22.5 |
| College, undergraduate | 73,745 | 19.7 |
| Graduate, professional school | 19,076 | 5.1 |
| Primary & Secondary Education(8) | Private | Public | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enrollment PK-12 (’21-’22) | 57,261 | 219,695 | 276,956 |
| High school graduates (’20-’21) | 2,519 | 14,944 | 17,463 |
| Institutions of Higher Education (9) | Enrollment Fall 2021 | Certificates awarded 2021/22 | Associate’s degrees conferred 2021/22 | Bachelor’s degrees conferred | Post-Grad degrees conferred |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alverno College | 1,822 | 72 | 6 | 276 | 225 |
| Bryant & Stratton College-Wauwatosa | 1,229 | 95 | 268 | 61 | 0 |
| Cardinal Stritch University | 1,365 | 0 | 4 | 231 | 245 |
| Carroll University | 3,397 | 0 | 0 | 631 | 269 |
| Concordia University-Wisconsin | 5,204 | 86 | 16 | 664 | 721 |
| Herzing University-Brookfield | 351 | 119 | 22 | 82 | 5 |
| Marquette University | 11,320 | 38 | 0 | 1,905 | 1,195 |
| Medical College of Wisconsin | 1,538 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 394 |
| Milwaukee Area Technical College | 11,828 | 2,301 | 1,246 | 0 | 0 |
| Milwaukee Career College | 172 | 173 | 19 | 0 | 0 |
| Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design | 898 | 0 | 0 | 158 | 0 |
| Milwaukee School of Engineering | 2,747 | 11 | 0 | 540 | 104 |
| Mount Mary University | 1,273 | 12 | 0 | 130 | 200 |
| Nashotah House | 134 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Ottawa University-Milwaukee | 172 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 32 |
| Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology | 111 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee | 24,459 | 893 | 262 | 3,815 | 1,539 |
| Waukesha County Technical College | 7,357 | 2,362 | 639 | 0 | 0 |
| Wisconsin Lutheran College | 1,147 | 3 | 0 | 225 | 45 |
| Wisconsin School of Professional Psychology | 75 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 |
| Total | 76,599 | 6,173 | 2,482 | 8,763 | 5,028 |
Educational
Attainment
The state of Wisconsin delivers when it comes to educating the talent of tomorrow. According to a 2023 report by U.S. News and World Report, the state of Wisconsin ranked No. 8 overall in the U.S. when it comes to education, landing in the top 10 for both Pre-K-12 and secondary education.
Concerning educational attainment, 23.4% of the Milwaukee region’s residents possess a bachelor’s degree (2.5% above the national average), and 9.3% hold an associate’s degree (0.5% above the national average).
From mkeregion.com – Demographics
| % of population | Population | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Less than 9th grade | 2.7% | 37,518 | |
| 9th grade to 12th grade | 5.1% | 71,441 | |
| High school diploma | 26.6% | 371,091 | |
| Some college | 20.2% | 281,634 | |
| Associate’s degree | 9.3% | 129,654 | |
| Bachelor’s degree | 23.4% | 325,773 | |
| Graduate degree or higher | 12.7% | 176,734 |